**Updated at bottom of article on 4/1 at 5:30 p.m.**According to a WFAA report, an interim District Attorney has been named to take over the D.A. job in Kaufman County until Governor Rick Perry can appoint a new D.A. to replace Mike McLelland. Assistant District Attorney Brandi Fernandez has been serving as a prosecutor in the 86th District Court, but will fill in as the Kaufman D.A. for at least the next three weeks.
Perry issued a statement to extend his thoughts and prayers to the McLelland family and the people of Kaufman County. He warned public officials to take extra precautions for their safety. Kaufman County employees were escorted into and out of the courthouse today and a strong presence of officers are present around the building. Multiple law enforcement agencies have swarmed over the county since the McLellands were murdered, and the FBI has been canvassing residences and businesses in Forney in search of information about the murders.
Mike McLelland and his wife Cynthia were shot to death in their Forney home, possibly as early as Friday night. Their bodies were discovered by family friends on Saturday evening around 6 p.m. D.A. McLelland had served the people of Kaufman County for just under three years, after defeating former D.A. Rick Harrison in a heated election. These murders come just two months after the killing of Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse. After Hasse's murder, McLelland had a warning for the killer or killers, telling them they would drag them out of “whatever hole they are hiding in” and bring them back to Kaufman County to be prosecuted.
Texas State Representative Lance Gooden, who serves the residents of Kaufman County, issued a statement on his Facebook page Sunday about the murders of District Attorney McLelland and his wife Cynthia:
“I was shocked and horrified to learn of the murder of Kaufman DA Mike McLelland and his wife Cynthia in their home this weekend. They were good and decent people and our community will continue to live in fear with news of this senseless tragedy. Law enforcement is working through the night and will no doubt continue to do so in the weeks ahead. I first met Mike and Cynthia when we were on the campaign trail together in 2010. Mike was a tough man who was afraid of nothing, but I knew him as one of the funniest people I had ever met. I was often in tears with laughter when I was around him and I am going to miss him dearly. Cynthia was a kind and loving woman who was a joy to be around and always had something positive to say each time I saw her. I was proud to call them friends, and I ask that you keep their family in your prayers in the days and weeks ahead.”
No funeral arrangements have been announced for the McLellands as of yet, but according to Corporal Christoper Heisler of the organization called The U.S. Honor Flag, “The U.S. Honor Flag and the entire organization is taking a large role in all services for the DA and his wife. We will be coordinating all funeral and internment for the family.” He added that The U.S. Honor Flag will be with “Mike” soon. The same organization brought the Honor Flag to Kaufman after the death of Mark Hasse, and flew it over the courthouse, guarded for 24 hours.
**UPDATE: A public memorial service will be held for the McLellands on Thursday at 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Sunnyvale in Mesquite, Texas. A public viewing will be held at the church from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. The McLellands will be buried in Wortham, Texas, where Mike McLelland grew up. We will update this with additional details as soon as they become available.**